[Math] Borel set approximation

lebesgue-measuremeasure-theory

Suppose $\mu$ is a regular Borel measure on a space $X$.

From regularity of $\mu$, every Borel set can be approximated from above by an open set.

Can we approximate every Borel set from below by an open set (not a closed set).

Any idea or comment …..

Best Answer

No. Simply consider the Lebesgue measure $\lambda$ on $\mathbb{R}$ and the set $$B := (\mathbb{R} \backslash \mathbb{Q}) \cap [0,1].$$ It is widely known that $\lambda(B)=1$. On the other hand, we cannot find any open set $U \subseteq \mathbb{R}$ such that $U \subseteq B$. Hence,

$$\sup\{\lambda(U); U \, \text{open}, U \subseteq B\} = 0.$$

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